Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Alpine
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Treeline
Natural avalanches possible, human triggered probable.
Below Treeline
Natural avalanches unlikely, human triggered possible.
Regions
Banff Yoho Kootenay.
With temperatures climbing and the potential for sunny periods on Tuesday, expect both wind slabs and the deep persistent slabs to become more sensitive to natural and human triggering.
Weather Forecast
Warming temperatures are likely to be the dominant input over the next few days. We expect freezing levels to approach Treeline on Tuesday with diminishing cloud cover however West winds should also be increasing. Watch local conditions carefully and consider heating both at your level and on the slopes above you.
Snowpack Summary
30-60cm of new snow in the past 10 days with extreme winds from the SW have created new slabs over a weak snow pack comprised mostly of facets, buried wind layers, and depth hoar. Further avalanche activity can be expected on these weak facet layers over the next while as the snowpack adjusts to the load and temperatures warm up.
Avalanche Summary
The recent avalanche cycle continued into Sunday when a size 3 avalanche ran to the creek over the Bourgeau Left ice climb. Avalanche control flights Monday observed widespread natural activity and produced windslab and deep persistent slabs of size 2.5 and 3 above the Sunshine Village access road as well as a sz 3 on Vermillion Peak in Kootenay NP
Confidence
Freezing levels are uncertain on Wednesday
Problems
Wind Slabs
Wind Slab avalanches are the release of a cohesive layer of snow (a slab) formed by the wind. Wind typically transports snow from the upwind sides of terrain features and deposits snow on the downwind side. Wind slabs are often smooth and rounded and sometimes sound hollow, and can range from soft to hard. Wind slabs that form over a persistent weak layer (surface hoar, depth hoar, or near-surface facets) may be termed Persistent Slabs or may develop into Persistent Slabs.
Deep Persistent Slabs
Deep Persistent Slab avalanches are the release of a thick cohesive layer of hard snow (a slab), when the bond breaks between the slab and an underlying persistent weak layer deep in the snowpack. The most common persistent weak layers involved in deep, persistent slabs are depth hoar or facets surrounding a deeply buried crust. Deep Persistent Slabs are typically hard to trigger, are very destructive and dangerous due to the large mass of snow involved, and can persist for months once developed. They are often triggered from areas where the snow is shallow and weak, and are particularly difficult to forecast for and manage.
Loose Wet
Loose Wet avalanches are the release of wet unconsolidated snow or slush. These avalanches typically occur within layers of wet snow near the surface of the snowpack, but they may quickly gouge into lower snowpack layers. Like Loose Dry Avalanches, they start at a point and entrain snow as they move downhill, forming a fan-shaped avalanche. Other names for loose-wet avalanches include point-release avalanches or sluffs. Loose Wet avalanches can trigger slab avalanches that break into deeper snow layers.